Austrian ski champion Gottwald ends retirement

VIENNA (AP) -- Olympic Nordic combined champion Felix Gottwald of Austria is coming out of retirement to compete on the World Cup circuit next season.

The 33-year-old Gottwald, who won two gold and a silver medal at the 2006 Turin Games, quit the sport in March 2007. He said Sunday he will compete again in the upcoming season, which also includes the Olympics in Vancouver.

Gottwald is Austria's most successful winter sports athlete, winning six Olympic and eight world championship medals. He also won 20 World Cup events and was the 2001 overall champion.

Over the past two years, Gottwald has written his autobiography "A day in my life," and has been working as a commentator for Austrian broadcaster ORF.

The Nordic combined World Cup season starts in Kuusamo, Finland, on Nov. 28.

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